Menu Plan Monday

Today a big, big, big change took place: this morning my big girl got braces! She has been excited/nervous for weeks. For her first set of bands she picked purple, teal and light blue. Very stylish! As her teeth and mouth are going to be a bit tender for the week, we are making sure to eat softer foods. I will be making baked goods with quinoa, amaranth, bean and nut flours, to get more protein in her with a nice soft texture and we are going to be making a LOT of smoothies this week! I will need to make and extra batch of coconut yogurt this week to keep up with the demand. I will also be making presoaked gluten free oatmeal (from Bob’s Red Mill) and Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa posted on 101 Cookbookswith the pecans chopped really, really small and using a mix of almond and coconut milk for the milk.

My menu will again super frugal. We are using things we already have in the garden, freezer and pantry. One, it’s easy on the budget (have any of you PAID for braces? Oof!) And also, it helps clear the way for my back to school/fall baking, freezing, drying, canning extravaganza that I do every year. I am sure I am part squirrel. I love to have the wind, rain and snow blowing around my house knowing I have a bunch of tasty things all set to nourish us through the winter months. This and next month you will see a lot of my canning, drying, freezing, baking plans as things are getting ready to explode in my garden. I love it! I realize I am a bit nuts in this area and am at peace with that. ;oD

The other thing my menu is doing this week is putting in a couple of delicious things from other people’s menus I have been wanting to try. What’s the point of doing all the swapping, if I am not using this amazing recourse?

Head over to Organizing Junkie and join Laura for Menu Plan Monday to see what is on everybody else’s plate. For the Gluten Free Menu Swap, Wheatstate Celiac is on deck to host this week, but it looks like she is having technical difficulties. However, if you go to this post and also check the comments, you will be able to link to the gluten free menus for the week while she gets it sorted out. I hope she gets her internet connection back soon! I would be going crazy!

Gluten Free Pasta with Turkey Meatballs in slow cooker ( I got the idea at Chick in the Kitchen. I will be making a gluten and dairy free version of this idea and post how it goes for Slow Cooker Thursday.)

Thursday: Play time with some friends/back to school doctor appointments for the girls/bake birthday cake, crumb coat and chill

–Shred zucchini: freeze into 3 cup amounts for zucchini bread during the winter. Also, bake some zucchini bread (no nuts due to braces) – one for the week, freeze two. Make double batch of zucchini muffins to freeze for back to school breakfasts.(now that all the zucchini is shredded and frozen, I will bake on the weekend when more is grown large enough.)

-Start to get the outgrown clothes out of kids’ rooms. Make list of what is needed in larger sizes. (My kids grow like weeds in the summer!!)

-Make the back to school supply shopping list.

(I am trying to keep myself accountable, so that explains this addition to my weekly plan. I do not do this by myself; the kids help each and everyday with each job and my husband is a laundry and dishes master (big pots and pans are his specialty) along with a ton of other things. I do not clean in huge chunks at a time. Just with a rotating list of jobs that eventually hits each area. That cleaning style works the best for me and actually keeps our house comfortable, but only if I stick to it. If I don’t have a list to work from, I don’t do my stuff and our house quickly descends into chaos. Plus, a list means I don’t have to nag at my kids as much. They know to check the list. When it’s done, we can play. We have gotten a bit lax on this, so are buckling down before the fall schedule kicks into full gear.)

Housekeeping stuff:

Everyday (this is always the hope…a girl can dream…):

make beds *****

feed pets *****

dishes (all done before bed!!) *****

sweep kitchen, dining area, entry ways ***

clean kitchen and bathroom sinks/wipe counters ****

Change dishtowel/sponge and hand towels every other day****

Kids do a 15 pickup in their bedrooms and living room *****

Walk dogs***

Water porch plants *****

Weed 2 foot square part of garden/replant any greens etc. that are needed ****